A POLICE motorbike officer was injured when armed robbers drove their getaway car into him as they made their escape from a post office raid.

A gang of three or four men entered the Marland Post Office on Bolton Road, at about 10.40am yesterday (Wednesday), moments after a security guard walked into the shop. They then hit the guard over the head with what is believed to be a wrench, before grabbing a cash box and running out to a blue Honda Accord which had been stolen from the Radcliffe area on Tuesday. The box didn't contain anything of value.

As the car drove away, it rammed a police motorcyclist responding to the incident, throwing him from the bike. The 32-year-old officer suffered minor injuries. The Honda, registration M764 BLK then headed towards Middleton and was later found abandoned in Caldbeck Drive.

Detective Constable Richard Beckwith from Rochdale CID said: "I would ask anyone who saw the Honda between the time it was stolen and abandoned to come forward and speak to us. The fact that these men hit the security guard and rammed a police motorbike shows they have no thought whatsoever for people's safety, and it is vital that they are caught before someone is seriously injured.

"Fortunately neither the security guard or the police officer suffered serious injuries, but this may not be the case if these robbers strike again. I would ask anyone who can help identify any of the offenders to come forward and speak to the police, and all information will be treated in strictest confidence."

Three of the men involved - the first was 5ft 8in, of stocky build, wearing a slightly faded green jumper, blue jeans and a black balaclava. The second was around 5ft 10in, of medium build and wearing a blue overall type jacket and balaclava, and the third man was wearing a black balaclava. Anyone with information is asked to contact Rochdale CID on 0161 856 8556 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.